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Thursday 6 August 2015

A Rare Sight

The Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

The Blue use to be the most common and widespread of our native species. 
In recent years it has declined considerably. In 2012 was its worst recorded year.

This year as part of the Big Butterfly count, Butterfly Conservation and the National Trust are asking the Public to search coastal sights for the species as it may be that due to less or non existent intensive farming on the coast that the Blue may have retained good numbers there.
I have observed a few more this year than last in the areas I search.

This is a male from the second brood of the year. 




27 comments:

  1. that is good news Roy and 2 beautiful shots

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  2. Sadly they seem to be scarce around this neck of the woods (or should I say meadows?) this year too Roy, although I did spot quite a sizable colony 'hidden' away in a quiet secluded spot on a local reserve a couple of days ago. Fingers crossed that they make a good recovery soon...[;o)

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    1. Yes I hope so Trevor, things are looking up now I think.

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  3. Un papillon parfait pour les photos Roy que tu as parfaitement réalisées ;-)
    bravo
    kiss

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  4. It's such a little beauty. I hope they make a come back.

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  5. Unfortunately, England is not the only place where it is in decline, here too I have seen fewer butterflies, all species combined... a sad realization.
    Let's hope numbers rise again :)
    Lovely photos Roy!

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  6. Hey Roy...Another blue butterfly, how lucky for you ;} I am trying not to be jealous :}. How many butterflies do you see that are blue ?
    Lets hope that you keep seeing these beauties.

    Grace

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    Replies
    1. Thanks GG, I normally see only three, but there are more around England.

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  7. Royyyyyyyyyyy,
    How art thou?!!! Long time no see.
    As usual, incredible photography...
    Its sad that many birds and insects termed common, are increasingly becoming uncommon!!!
    My Travelogue

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  8. Numbers have declined in recent years on the Yorkshire Wolds too, though in some favoured locations they are doing fine, especially this year :-) Hopefully the downward trend of recent years is just a blip and not part of a far more worrying decline!

    Love the photos by the way :-)

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  9. saw plenty a matter of months ago, but our second flight not about yet. Holly blues are around and even harder to photograph, as usual

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    1. I think I have seen as many Holly Blues as I have Common Blues Simon.

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  10. I'm glad that you have seem more of them this year. They are beautiful and you get such lovely shots of them!

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  11. ...these are especially beautiful photos. They blue against the yellow is a perfect match. (Glad you've seen an increase!)

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  12. The coast is where I usually find this butterfly, as it most certainly isn't common in my garden! Beautiful captures.

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  13. I have not seen many of the Common Blue, the word 'common' should be got rid of, they are not so common now.

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    1. Thats right Lyn, although by now I have seen more this year than the last two years, so hopefully they will pick up again.

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